Attempts is the plural noun or verb form of attempt, meaning efforts made to achieve something. In everyday use, it typically refers to multiple tries or endeavors, or the act of trying itself in present or past contexts. The word carries light to moderate emphasis, usually placing stress on the second syllable when used as a noun or verb phrase in connected speech.
US & AU accents are Premium
Unlock all accent variations
- You may flatten the second syllable, making it /ətɛmpts/ instead of /əˈtɛmpts/. Practice: say the second syllable with a stronger, centered vowel; keep stress on the second syllable. - The /t/ release can be swallowed or assimilated into the following /p/ or /s/. Work on a clean release: end the /t/ with a brief voiceless burst before the /s/. - Final /s/ can be devoiced or too airy. Aim for a crisp sibilant with steady airflow; don’t let the sound trail into a hiss.”
- US: Rhoticity can affect linked speech; practice with phrases like “attempts to” to ensure the /r/ influence doesn't alter the /tɛmpts/ core. Vowel quality tends toward a clearer /ə/; keep the schwa short and unstressed. - UK: Slightly shorter second syllable, crisper /t/ release; maintain non-rhoticity in adjacent words, with a quicker transition into following consonants. - AU: Similar to UK in vowel reduction; expect slightly more open vowel quality in /ə/ and faster tempo in casual speech. Maintain the final /s/ clarity in connected speech. All: Use IPA references /əˈtɛmpts/ and practice with connected phrases to reinforce natural rhythm.
"She made several attempts to fix the leak before calling a professional."
"His attempts to improve his pronunciation paid off over time."
"The doctor documented several failed attempts before a successful diagnosis."
"With a few more attempts, the team finally completed the project."
Attempts comes from the verb attempt, which stems from the Old French tenter, meaning to try or to tempt, with further influence from Medieval Latin temptare. The noun form emerged in English in the late 14th century, often reflecting the act or instance of trying something. The semantic shift over time kept the core idea of making an effort, but with increasing nuance about the number of tries or the act itself, rather than a single unilateral try. The root tenter in French shares a link to temptation and testing, but in English, attempts emphasizes action and effort rather than outcome. The word evolved in usage to cover both noun and verb forms, and in modern contexts you’ll see it in legal, academic, and informal speech to denote multiple specific tries rather than a single attempt. The earliest known uses appear in Middle English texts, where writers described attempts to reach a goal or to solve a problem, signaling a process-oriented understanding of effort rather than a definitive result.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "attempts" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "attempts" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "attempts" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "attempts"
-nts sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
Pronounce as ə-ˈtɛmpts. Start with a weak initial schwa, then a stressed second syllable with /ɛm/ as in “bet,” followed by a clear /pt/ cluster where the /t/ releases into a quick /s/ at the end. IPA: /əˈtɛmpts/. In careful speech you’ll hear a crisp /t/ and a light but audible final /s/.
Common errors include flattening the second syllable to /tɛm/ with weak stress, pronouncing the /t/ as an aspirated stop without a proper release, and running the final /pts/ into /p/ or /t/ sounds. To correct, ensure the syllable boundary after /æ/ or /ɛm/ (sounding like ə-TEMPTS), release the /t/ crisply into /p/ or /pt/ transition and finish with a clear /s/. Practice with minimal pairs to anchor the /t/ release and final s sound.
In US, UK, and AU, the core syllable stress remains on the second syllable, resulting in /əˈtɛmpts/. The main differences lie in vowel quality and rhoticity: US tends to have a more pronounced rhotic vowel influence in adjacent words; UK typically has a slightly shorter /ə/ and crisper /t/ release; AU mirrors UK in many cases but may soften vowels in connected speech. The final /s/ remains voiceless and clear in all three, though pace and intonation vary with the dialect.
The difficulty centers on the /t/ release into an adjacent /p/ or /t/ cluster and the quick, voiceless final /s/. The sequence /tɛmpts/ requires precise timing: the /t/ must release into an affricate-like transition before the final /s/. For many speakers, the schwa in the first syllable is weak and quickly reduced, making the second syllable carry the weight. Mastery comes from practicing the /t/ release and the clean, brief final /s/ in connected speech.
A useful tip is to practice with an intentional bite-size rhythm: say “uh-TEMPTS” with a short, almost clipped /t/ after the vowel, then add the final /s/ quickly without voicing over the /t/. Visualize the mouth: lips start relaxed for /ə/, tongue tips touch the alveolar ridge for /t/, then the tongue briefly taps before /p/–/t/ transition into /s/. This helps ensure a crisp release and clean final sound.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "attempts"!
- Shadowing: listen to a native speaker say a sentence with ‘attempts’ and imitate the timing, focusing on the second syllable stress and the /t/ release. - Minimal pairs: attempt vs. attempts, tent vs. tent, tempts vs. attempts; notice the difference in vowel length and consonant clusters. - Rhythm practice: practice 4-beat patterns with the word in different positions: “I make an at-tempts to …” to feel stress alignment. - Stress practice: rehearse sentences with emphasis on the noun/verb sense: /əˈtɛmpts/ (noun) vs /ˈəˈtɛmpts/ (verb form in sentence context). - Recording: record yourself saying multiple instances, then compare to a reference pronunciation; listen for crisp /t/ release and final /s/. - Context sentences: practice two context sentences to embed the sound in natural speech. - Tempo progression: start slow, then normal, then fast while maintaining clarity of /t/ and /s/. - Mouth-movement focus: practice the precise tongue placement for the alveolar /t/ and the /s/ hiss at the end.
No related words found
